U. S. Flag Counter

International Flag Counter

Posts Tagged ‘Human rights’

.. it is still that simple — China is a totalitarian nation , one that is run by the Communist Party . It is a central fact that cannot be ignored ..

.. anyone who does business of any kind in the P.R.C. has to understand that . There is no effective ” rule of law ” in China . To protect one ‘ s rights , one has to negotiate contracts very , very carefully . To wit , you have to make sure that your rights are protected by a third party [arbitration] , or by the courts of athird party nation , such as the U.S. , Britain , OR Australia , for example ..

.. the Holy Father ‘ s recent trip to Cuba could have gone better . The Vatican has a powerful voice of moral standing to bring to the world . Saint John Paul II proved how powerful that it could be by carefully confronting the Soviet Union and Communism , and eventually bringing freedom to the Warsaw Pact nations , Central Europe , Eastern Europe , and to Russia itself …

.. being of a middle – class upbringing [my father was an electrical engineer , my late mother was a maternity nurse] in the Midwest here in the U.S. , it still amazes me what others have to go through each day just to fight for their simple , god – given human rights …

.. these young men and young women are people of amazing and tremendous courage and heart . They risk everything , everyday , to fight for their faith , their beliefs , and their freedom . They do it not just for themselves , but they do it for all of Cuba , even for the folks who are imprisoning them …

.. this film and this clip (both of which were released) are a true groundbreaking exposé of the horrendous problem in the Arab World … and even here in the Americas (both here in the United States , and in Canada) … the gawd awful horror of honor killings …

… these women have bravely fought the good fight to bring this story to the screen … and now , C.A.I.R. (the Council on American – Islamic Relations) is trying to shut it down …

.. why ? .. because they call it Islamophobic … As I put it in my title , the video and movie are anything but Islamophobic …

.. how can people do such a thing ? Basically , the ” honor ” system is nothing but the enslavement of women …

.. you should see the website , and the film trailer . When and if possible , buy the film from the ITunes store , or attend a screening in your local community . These folks deserve your support , and C.A.I.R. should be ashamed of itself for trying to silence screenings on college campuses … In the old days , that might have worked , but now ?? … in the internet age , that cannot work , it will not work , it must not work ….

.. it is time to apply the Magnitsky Bill . It was passed as a part of the passage of normal trade relations with Russia in 2012 . Those relations obviously should be suspended , for the near term . In order to get the attention of Putin and his cronies (the oligarchs) , Magnitsky provisions should be applied to those people who pal around with Putin . All of them that can be identified …

.. Also , if possible , the provisions of the Magnitsky bill should be strengthened to include companies that do business in the United States . Such restrictions are similar to what are provided for in the Helms – Burton Trade with Cuba Act …

.. and if Vladimir Vladimirovich [Putin] keeps up with his antics , reintroduce a 21st – century version of Jackson – Vanik . Jackson – Vanik provided for evaluation of human rights in both Russia and the old Soviet Union . It applied to both . It should still , as a deterrent …

(CNSNews.com) – European lawmakers this month will vote on a measure that promotes abortion as a fundamental human right, while taking aim at the conscientious objection rights of pro-life doctors and health workers.

Critics see the move as an attempt to dictate abortion policy to individual European Union governments, despite an acknowledgement by leading E.U. institutions that there is no consensus on the matter across the 28 member-states.

The controversial draft report, which is being promoted by socialist members of the European Parliament (MEPs), was passed last month by the legislature’s committee on women’s rights and gender equality.

According to supporting documents, 20 E.U. member-states legally permit abortion on demand, while six others have limitations which are either interpreted broadly (Britain, Finland, Cyprus) or restrictively (Ireland, Poland, Luxembourg). Malta prohibits all abortions. (The 28th and newest member, Croatia, had not joined the E.U. when the legislation was being drafted.)

Even in countries where abortion is legal, the report states, it is often made unavailable “through the abuse of conscientious objection or overly restrictive interpretations of existing limits.” Other obstacles include “medically unnecessary waiting periods or biased counseling.”

(Some E.U. countries have compulsory waiting period of up to seven days and pre-abortion counseling, either for all women or in some cases for adolescents only.)

The measure would therefore require member states to “regulate and monitor the use of conscientious objection so as to ensure that reproductive health care is guaranteed as an individual’s right, while access to lawful services is ensured and appropriate and affordable referrals systems are in place.”

An explanatory note complains that objectors deny women information about and access to “lawful interruption of pregnancy.”

Aside from the anti-conscientious objection language, arguably the most explosive part of the draft report is a clause that says “as a human rights concern, abortion should be made legal, safe and accessible to all.”

Pro-life European lawmaker Anna Zaborska of Slovakia led the opposition in committee against a draft report that seeks to promote abortion as a human right and calls for concscientious objectors to be monitored and regulated. (Photo: Zaborska website)

In a minority opinion committee member Anna Zaborska, a pro-life Slovak MEP, said the report could not be used to establish a “right to abortion.”

“No international legally binding treaty nor the ECHR [European Convention on Human Rights] nor customary international law can accurately be cited as establishing or recognizing such right,” she said.

“All E.U. institutions, bodies and agencies must remain neutral on the issue of abortion.”

Zaborska, who represents the European People’s Party (Christian Democrats) and is a former chairwoman of the committee, also objected strongly to the language about conscientious objection.

“No person, hospital or institution shall be coerced, held liable or discriminated against in any manner because of a refusal to perform, accommodate, assist or submit to practices which could cause the death of a human embryo,” she said.

European Dignity Watch, a pro-life non-governmental organization based in Brussels, slammed the attempt to establish “a so-called ‘right to abortion.’”

“The majority who voted in favor of the report in committee bluntly ignores that such a right exists nowhere in international law and is ready to sacrifice internationally-recognized rights, such as the right to conscientious objection,” it said in a statement.

“Their ideological zeal to trample on other rights and impose the ‘right to abortion’ on the rest of Europe embodies precisely the arrogant and patronizing attitude that threatens the freedom of conscience — and that we should all vociferously reject.”

Another part of the report says member-states should ensure compulsory sex education for all children, both in and out of school, which “must include the fight against stereotypes and prejudices, shed light on gender and sexual orientation discrimination, and structural barriers to substantive equality.”

“One can only speculate on the exact method of implementation of these noble-sounding but eminently dangerous aims,” said European Dignity Watch, “but there is a clear political will that some of these radical ideas would be transmitted to pupils through the educational system.”

The report also calls on on the E.U. to finance abortion in developing countries as part of the E.U. development aid program, which it says should have “a strong and explicit focus, and concrete targets on SRHR [sexual and reproductive health and rights].”

It argues that “investments in reproductive health and family planning are among the most cost-effective, in terms of development, and the most effective ways to promote the sustainable development of a country.”

Push back

The report heads for a vote by the full European Parliament later this month at a time when citizens are pushing back against abortion funding.

Under the Lisbon Treaty, an effort to reform and strengthen the E.U., a new tool called the European citizens’ initiative (ECI) was introduced with the aim of improving participatory democracy.

November 1 this year is the deadline for the first registered ECIs to pass a target of one million signatures, including a proscribed minimum number of signatures required from at least seven member-states. Currently only two are on track, and one of them is a pro-life initiative that seeks to end E.U. funding for abortion and all research practices involving the destruction of human embryos.

With three weeks to go to the deadline, the initiative known as “One of us” has attracted more than 1.2 million signatures. It has received the backing of the Pope, and the largest numbers of signatures so far have come from Italy, Poland, Germany, Romania and France.

Under the ECI rules, the E.U.’s executive commission will have three months to respond to an initiative that meets the requirements.

A European Dignity Watch study last year found that two of the world’s largest abortion providers, Marie Stopes and International and International Planned Parenthood Federation, are recipients of E.U. development funding.

Banning E.U. funding for abortion would be a similar move to the Mexico City Policy, a Reagan-era measure that prohibits U.S. aid to organizations that promote or perform abortions around the world.

legal director of the group in Colorado, which filed the complaint last year on behalf of Mullins and Craig. “We are all entitled to our religious beliefs and we fight for that. But someone’s personal religious beliefs don’t justify breaking the law by discriminating against others in the public sphere.”

.. Someone should remind the AntiChrist Lunatics Union that our religious beliefs are religious liberties , enshrined in the U.S. Constitution . Also , in the Bill of Rights , in the 1st Amendment , as regards the freedom of religion and religious practice . Exercising those religious beliefs in public is not discrimination , and does not discriminate against others . People are freely exercising their religious beliefs , and that does not stop in the business sphere .

.. Those idiots keep on enacting those so – called “human rights” laws , and imposing their socialist acts on us all . They should remember , those laws are only laws , and they are not constitutional amendments . The law is subservient to the constitution , and those “so – called sexual orientation” laws are unconstitutional .

.. these companies are being set upon by so – called “Human Rights” laws . Basically , these laws are imposing a secular code of humanist justice upon those of us who are believers , and our religious beliefs are being thoroughly trampled upon . This is the height of outrageous .

.. Those local and state bodies should remember that the great mass of the people are those who are religious believers . We are all of different faiths , but of one common set of beliefs . Those beliefs are spelled out in the individual rights set out in the Bill of Rights . They include , but are not limited to , our religious faith . Just because one goes into business in the common public sphere , does not limit one ‘ s ability to practice one ‘ s faith .

.. These so – called “human rights” laws have marched waaaaay over the line . Many folks who are involved in this are pro – family and pro – traditional marriage . They believe that it should be limited to between one man and one woman . They should not and must not have their rights to religious freedom and freedom of property limited because they do not believe in so – called “same – sex marriage . ” These idiots are trying to impose their humanist beliefs on others , and it goes way beyond the pale of constitutionality .

.. The pro – family and pro – marriage forces should counterattack . There are laws limiting the infringement of civil rights , and usually they are put to use to the loonie left . Guess what ? They apply to everyone , and the Loonies are going to have to be made to find that out the hard way . Either there is religious freedom for all , or there is no religious freedom at all . Our constitution and the Bill of Rights should still mean something .

.. these are links (ironically , to the Huffington Post) about a small local cake bakery who was forced to close because of their religious beliefs . They believe in the traditional definition of marriage , and do not believe that they should be penalized for doing business in public , and remaining faithful to their religion . They believe that they can do both . They should and hopefully will fight back … [link1] … [link2]

.. at the rate that the radical left is going , they will not settle at the legalization of “gay marriage.” they will keep pushing , pushing , pushing , seeking to deligitimize Christians and Christianity , taking away people ‘ s God –

given human rights and Constitutional Rights , under the cloak of “Human Rights,” such

as they have done in Canada ..

.. Canada does have constitutional protections for its citizens . It is called the

Charter of Rights and Freedoms . It evidently did not stop the passage of the Canada Human Rights Act , or the establishment of the Canada Human Rights Cmsn . The Cmsn is a

legislation that extends to opposition to gay marriage, and so on. All of this will

have the effect of pressuring churches into blessing gay marriages . . While he can’t determine the sacraments for religions, Obama will try and marginalize those religions that don’t determine the sacraments in a manner he

considers “nondiscriminatory.” The goal of the gay-marriage juggernaut is to make Christians pariahs, as irrelevant to

public life as racists. It doesn’t have to pass a Denmark-style law to force churches

to conduct gay marriages; it can achieve the same end through punitive political

correctness. The gay-marriage juggernaut only speeds up at the sight of such gestures, seeing civil

marriage as just one stop on a longer road to a secularist state in which religion in

general and the Catholic Church in particular fall silent and compliant out of fear if